Despite widespread opposition from California educator groups, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed unprecedented legislation Tuesday that supporters say will crack down on antisemitism in the state’s classrooms.
The bill, Assembly Bill 715 — introduced by Democratic Assemblymembers Rick Chavez Zbur of Los Angeles and Dawn Addis of San Luis Obispo — establishes a new Office of Civil Rights and a first-in-the-nation statewide Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator in an effort to rein in antisemitism in schools. The bill was a joint effort between the chairs of California’s legislative diversity caucuses, including the Black, Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Jewish caucuses.
“California is taking action to confront hate in all its forms,” Newsom said in a statement Tuesday. “At a time when antisemitism and bigotry are rising nationwide and globally, these laws make clear: our schools must be places of learning, not hate.”
The new office will be administered by the state’s Government Operations Agency, and its director appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. The Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator will be appointed by Newsom and confirmed by the state Senate, tasked with tracking and reporting antisemitism in California schools, as well as training and advising local educational agencies on how to address antisemitism.
Under the bill, school materials must be “factually accurate,” and local educational agencies are prohibited from using any professional development materials or services considered discriminatory. The bill also requires schools to investigate and take corrective action when discriminatory content is used in classrooms or professional development.
Newsom also signed Senate Bill 48 — companion legislation to AB 715 — which creates additional positions within the new Office of Civil Rights: a Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator and an LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
Newsom’s signing of the bill marks the end of a lengthy attempt by California legislators to rein in contentious ethnic studies courses — a much-debated topic in the state that has become increasingly pressing amid the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and widespread student protests.
AB 715 has undergone several major changes since it was first introduced in May, in an attempt to placate the teachers’ union and several educational and Arab American advocacy groups, who warned the bill would chill free speech and censor curriculum in California classrooms.
Opponents of the bill include ACLU California Action, the Association of California School Administrators, California County Superintendents, the California School Boards Association, the Council of UC Faculty Associations, Jewish Voice for Peace Bay Area chapter and the University of California Student Association, among others.
The California Teachers Association also strongly opposed AB 715, warning the bill may dissuade educators from discussing controversial or sensitive topics and deprive students of an “inclusive and honest education.”
The teacher’s union said Tuesday that classroom instruction that includes perspectives and materials reflecting the diversity of all California students is at the heart of public education, which “fuels our democracy.”
“AB 715 raises serious free speech concerns, leaving teachers uncertain about what they can lawfully say in the classroom on a wide range of issues,” said CTA President David Goldberg. “At a time when too many are seeking to attack academic freedom and weaponize public education, AB 715 would unfortunately arm ill-intentioned people with the ability to do so.”
But supporters, including the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California and the American Jewish Committee, applauded Newsom Tuesday and said the bill sends a “strong message” that antisemitism and hate have no place in California schools.
“Every student deserves to be safe, valued and respected — no matter who they are or what they believe,” Assemblymember Zbur said Tuesday. “At a time when hate is rising and antisemitism is sweeping our communities, AB 715 reaffirms California’s commitment to inclusion and standing up against bigotry in all its forms.”
According to Attorney General Rob Bonta’s 2024 Hate Crime in California Report, anti-Jewish bias incidents rose more than 7% from 2023 to 2024 and increased more than 219% from 2015.
Ella Miller, a Jewish student from Santa Clara County, testified in front of the Assembly Education Committee on Sept. 12 and said she was subjected to hate and harassment because of her identity and religion.
“They called me ‘the Jew.’ They yelled at me that I was a murderer and that Jews were terrorists. I was made fun of, harassed, and followed around,” Miller said at the hearing. “They hated me because of my identity, my religion, and my parents’ nationality.”
Miller alleged that despite repeated requests from herself and her family, the school — which she did not name — failed to take action and her parents ultimately removed her and enrolled her at a private Jewish school.
In a statement Tuesday, Assemblymember Addis praised Newsom for signing the bill and said California “has always set the standard for inclusive education,” and AB 715 reaffirms that effort.
“This is a historic first-in-the-nation effort that centers on the well-being of children across our state, many of whom bravely shared horrific stories about their experiences in our schools,” Addis said. “When we hear what these kids and families have faced, we know we have to act.”